Washing machine



Sept-17, 1929. v E u 1,728,379

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I m Mia Sept. 17, 1929. H. F. VIEAU WASHING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 4 m oooooo oov I,

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II LIIII II'IIIIH Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD F. VIEAU, OF LIVERPOOL, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO AL'IORFER BROS. COM- PANY, OF EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS WASHING MACHINE Application filed July 5,

This invention has reference to washing machines, and it has for its principal object, to do away with the usual and custom ary wringer rolls for wringing the free water from clothes and other materials washed in the washing tub of suchrmachine, and to employ instead a centrifugal drier for drying the'clothes and other materials, after the washing operation and for rinsing and bluing the clothes and other materials, as may be desired.

The invention has for a further object to. provide in a washing machine, such as is used for domestic purposes, a centrifugal 1 drier or extractor which is capable of being used during a washing operation to dry one batch of materials or to rinse or blue the same, while another batch of ma terials is being washed and for such purposes to be used at a time separate and independent of a washing operation.

A further object of the invention is a centrifugal extractor including a perforated basket receptacle, through which the liquid extracted from the materials is directed to the bottom of the extractor and by means of a suitable pump and elevating means is conveyed to the top of such extractor, and by means of a valved conduit or liquid passage-way may be selectively discharged into the washing tub or into a separate receptacle, such for instance as a rinse tub, bluing water tub or clothes basket.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a drain board, which may or may not have a pivoted connection with the extractor, whereby it may be raised or lowered in its relation to a receptacle separate from said extractor and over which liquid discharged through such conduit or passagle-way may be'directed into such receptac v The invention has for a still further oh- 4 ject to provide a rotatable closure for the perforated basket and a movable support for said closure, whereby the closuremay .be moved into cooperative relation with said basket and removed therefrom; and

further, to provide means for adjusting 1927. Serial No. 203,472.

said basket axially in its relation to the normal closed position of such closure.

The invention comprehends in its structure and arrangement of elements that the pumping and elevating means will be'operated simultaneously with the rotation of the basket; also means for clutching the basket operating means with the power and declutching the same therefrom, and a brake operating on the declutching of said clutch for bringing to a stop the rotation of said basket.

Other and further objects will more fully appear from the detailed description of the machine.

That the invention may be more fully' understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, on a greatly reduced scale, showing so much of a washing machine as is necessary to illustrate my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is. a vertical cross-section through the drier or extractor, as the same would appear if taken on the line 33 Fig. 1, but on a somewhat larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the conduit or passage-way, at the top ofthe drier, as the same would appear if taken on the line M Fig. 1, but on a somewhat larger scale;

- F ig. 5 is a vertical cross-section through the top of the dried'to illustrate the construction and arrangement of the closure for the perforated basket and movable support for such closure, as the same would appear if taken on the line 55 Fig. 1, but on a somewhat larger scale, and

Fig. 6 is a bottom broken away.

Likecharacters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

In. the drawings, 1 designates the tub of the machine in which the washing of materials is done, and 2 designates the centrifugal drier or extractor. These two elements are preferably supported in. their relaplan view of the'basket,

tion to each other, somewhat as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and by means of standards or legs 3, only one of which is shown. The tub is provided with top and bottom bracing bands or rings 4 and 5. To the band or ring 4 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured the head frame. 6 of the extractor, which frame, as shown, extends laterally from the tub 1 and where it joins the tub is shaped to conform to the contour thereof. To the band or ring 5 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured the base frame 7 'of the extractor and said frames are secured to and supported by a standard or leg 3. The tub 1 may be provided with any suitable washing elements, such as vacuum cups or an agitating dolly arranged to be operated from power means located beneath the tub. These last mentioned elements. are omitted from the drawings as they form no part of the present invention, but it is to be understood that such washing'elements may be operated simultaneously with or independently of the extractor mechanism and from a common source of power, as for instance an electric motor, not shown. A drain cock 8 is shown connected with the bottom of the tub;

Referring more particularly to the ,drier or extractor 2, it comprises preferably an outer elongated cylindrical casing 9 having aclosed lower end and an 'upper open end. Said casing rests upon and is supported by the base frame 7 and its upper open end coincides with a corresponding opening 10 in the head frame 6 and it is through such opening that materials are passed when placing them within and removing the same from the extractor; The bottom of said casing, at a suitable point, is provided with a short depending spout 11, in communication with the interior of said casing andto said spout is connected a coupling member 12 to which is attached a pipe 13 having communication with'a suitable pump 14 operatively connected to a shaft 15, which in turn would have a suitable operative connection with the motor referred to, although not shown.

Connected to and leaning from the pump is preferably a hose 16 and said'hose is extended upward alongside the extractor and has connection with a coupling-17, in turn connected with a short depending pipe 18 leading to and communicating with a liquid conduit or passageway 19 formed or provided on the head frame 6. In the form shown, this conduit or passageway is arranged longitudinally of and next adjacent,

one side of the head frame 6; one end open ing out at the tub 1 and the opposite end,

opening out at .the opposite and outside end of said head frame, whereby liquid being elevated by the pump through the hose 16 may be selectively discharged into the tub 1 or into a separate receptacle placed alongside the extractor.. Such a receptacle, may be a rinse tub, bluing tub, basket or other receptacle. The conduit or passageway is valve controlled, whereby. to permit of the control of direction of the flow of liquid from the casing 9 and its point' of discharge from said head frame. I have shown a twoway rotatable valve member 20 journaled in the conduit or passageway 19 at the juncture of said conduit and pipe 18, see Fig. 4, the same being provided with a lever 21 to permit of manual turning of the same. In the position of this valve in Fig. 4 liquid elevated in the hose 16 will be discharged into the tub 1. By turning the valve the liquid may be discharged from said conduit at its opposite or outer end. Secured in an inclined position from the outer end of said head frame is a drain board 22 onto which the liquid is discharged from the conduit 19 and such liquid directed by said board toa receptacle not shown. By. pivoting this board to the head frame, as at 23, and by providing wing nuts 24, the outer end of the board may be adjusted up and down in relation to a tub or basket placed alongside the extractor, as will be understood.

Removably and rotatably "carried in the casing 9 is a perforated basket receptacle 25. This receptacle is preferably cylindrical in cross-section like the casing, but somewhat smaller in diameter and is not quite so long. It has a closed bottom and an open upper end, like said casing, see Fig. 3. Its upper end is beaded or rolled, as at 26. The bottom is' formed or provided, axially, with a polygonal shaped outwardly presented seat 27, see Figs. 3 and 6. The rotating means for the basket 25 comprises an axially adjustable operating shaft 28 which is formed or providedat its upper end with a polygonal shaped driving head 29 adapted to fit the seat 27 in the bottom of the basket, see Fig. 3. Said shaft is journaled in and passes up through a non-leakable bearing which passes up through the base frame 7 and connected with or forming part of a sectional wheel 31 also having a friction clutch member Said gear wheel is in mesh with and is adapted to receive its power from a bevel gear wheel 33 on a driving shaft 34 which receives its power, in a suitable manner from the motor, to which reference has already been made. Having a spline and groove connection with the shaft 28 so as to slide therein is a double faced friction clutch member 34 adapted to have a clutch connec-' tion with the clutch member 32. The member 34: may be moved into and out of clutch engagement with the member 32 through and by means of a lever arm, to which may be connected a manually operated rod, not shown, extending to any suitable point alongside the extractor, as will be understood. Said clutch member 34 is adapted to have a braking relation with a friction member 36 formed in or provided on a section, of the housing 30, when declutohing said member 34 from the member 32 to retard and stop the rotation of the shaft 28 and'the basket 25. The lower end of the. shaft- 28 rests and rotates on the threaded and adjustable stem 37, which stem engages threaded within a section of the housing 30' whereby said stem may be adjustedaxially and by such adjustment adjust the shaft 28 axially to raise or lower the basket 25. A lock nut 38 holds the stem in its adjusted position.

. periphery adapted to engage with the upper beaded or rolled edge 26 0f the basket 25 and to be brought into such an impinging relation therewithas to rotate with the basket 25 when said basket is rotated. This closure, as shown, is rotatably connected, preferably by a ball bearing journal connection with a support 40. Said support is preferably a cover plate, dome-shaped to conform to the contour of the closure 39 which 'it normally overlies and is hinged at 41 to thehead frame 6, preferably to the upper side wall forming the conduit in said head frame, see Figs. 1 and 5. When the closure is in closed and engaging relation with the basket 25 the sup port '40 closes the opening 10 in the head frame 6', see Figs. 1 and 3 and to lock the support in closedposition there is provided a cam lever 42 pivoted to the head frame 6 and adapted to engage the support 40, see Fig. 1. Raising the support 40 will raise the closure 39 from the basket 25 and will permit an attendant to lift the basket 25. from out the casing 9 through the opening 10 in the head frame 6 and also permit replacement thereof. Inasmuch as the closure 39 and support 40 have somewhat definite positions when closed, it is desirable to provide a means for adjusting the vertical position of the basket 25 in relation thereto so that a very definite cooperation will exist betweenthese elements, and to accomplish this purpose I have provided the adjusting means heretofore de-- scribed at the base of the extractor. Both the closure 39 and its support 40 are provided with openings 43 and associated with the openings in the closure 39 are wings 44 located on the upper face of said closure, see

.Fig. 3. The openings in the support, which is stationary, will permit an attendant to pour liquid therethrough to be taken up by the wings 44 and forced outwardly and down between the walls of the basket 25 and casing 9 to break up a collection of suds should such occur, whereby the liquid discharged by centrifugal action through the perforations in the wall of the basket 25 may not be retarded but find its way to the bottom of the casing 9 and to the pump to be elevated to the top of the receptacle and be discharged at the desired point. The openings in the closure 39 will permit liquid passed through the openings in the support 40 to also find ingress into the basket.

What I claim is 1. In a washing machine, in combination, a centrifugal extractor including a casing, a perforated basket rotatably mounted in said casing, a driving element for said basket, a rotatable closure for said basket, a movable support with which said closure has a rotatable connection, said support and closure when the latter is in closed position having predetermined positions, and means for adjusting said driving element whereby to adjust the position of said basket in its relation to said closure.

2. In a washing machine, in combination, a centrifugal extractor including a cylindrical casing, a head frame having an opening into said casing, a 1 perforated basket rotatably mounted in said casing, a driving element for said basket, a cover plate hingedly connected to said head frame and adapted to close the opening therein, means to lock said plate in closed position, a' closure for said basket rotatably connected with said plate and movable to open and closed positions therewith, said plate and closure when the latter is n closed position having predetermined positions, and means for ad usting said driving element wherebyto adjust the position of said basket in its relation to said closure.

3. In a washing machine, in combination, a centrifugal extractor including a casing, a head frame having an opening into said casing, a perforated basket rotatably mounted insaid casing, an axially movable shaft operatively connected with said basket,'a cover plate hingedly connected to said head frame and adapted to close the opening therein, means to lock said plate in closed position, a closure for said basket rotatably connected with said plate and movable 'to open and closed positions therewith, said plate and closure when the latter is in closed position having predetermined positions, means foraX- ially adjusting said shaft whereby to ad ust the position of said basket In its relation to saidclosure, a driving shaft, means to clutch connect said operating and driving shafts, and brake means operable simultaneous with the declutchin of said shafts for retarding and stopping the rotation of said basket.

4. In a Washing machine, in combination, a centrifugal extractor including a casing havinga discharge outlet in its ower portion, a head frame provided for the extractor with a liquid conduit having-different discharge outlets, valve means in said conduit adapted to control the'direction of flow of liquid into and from said conduit, a drain board connected with said extractor and adapted to receive liquid discharged from one of the outlets of said conduit, a perforated basket rotatably mounted in said casing, means to rotate said basket, a pump, a connection between said pump and the discharge outlet of said casing, and elevating means to conduct liquid from said pump to the valved connection of said conduit.

5. In a washing machine, in combination, a centrifugal extractor including a casing having a discharge outlet in its lower portion, a head frame provided with a liquid conduit having different discharge outlets, valve means to control the direction of flow of liquid into and from said conduit, a drain board supported in an inclined position from said head frame and adapted to receive liquid discharged from one of the outlets of said conduit, a perforated basket rotat-.

ably mounted in said casing, means to rotate said basket, a pump, a connection between said pump and the discharge outlet of said casing, and a hose connection between said pump and the valve means in said conduit.

6. In a Washing machine, in combination, a centrifugal extractor including a casing having a discharge outlet in its lower portion, a head frame having an opening into i said casing and provided with a liquid conduit having different discharge outlets, valve means to control the direction of flow of liquid into and from said conduit, a drain board supported in an inclined position from said head frame and adapted to receive liquid discharged from one of the outlets of said conduit, a perforated basket rotatably mounted in said casing, a driving element for said basket, a cover plate hingedly connected to said head frame and adapted to close the opening therein, means to lock said plate in closed position, a closure for said basket rotatably connected with said plate and movable to open and closed positions therewith,

said plate and closure, when the latter is in closed position having predetermined positions, means for adjusting said driving-element whereby to adjust the position of said basket in its relation to said closure, a pump, a connection between said pump and the discharge outlet of said casing, and elevating means to conduct liquid from, said pump to the valved connection of saidconduit.

'7. In a washing machine, in combination, a centrifu' al extractor including a casing having a ischarge outlet in its lower portion, a perforated basket removably and rotatably mounted in said casing, means to rotate said basket, a head frame for the extractor having a conduit provided with differen't discharge outlets, valve means to control the direction of flow of liquid into and from said conduit, a rotatable closure for said basket, a support for said closure hingedly connected with said head frame, means to lock said support when the closure is in engaging relation with said basket, said support and closure having openings thert through for the introduction of liquid into the extractor, impelling wings on said closure in association with the openings therethrough, a pump, liquid conducting means connecting the discharge outlet of said casing with said'pump, and liquid elevating means between said pump and the valved connection of said conduit. 7

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my hand this 2nd day of July, 1927.

HAROLD F. VIEAU. 

